Wonderful. Great job. Congrats. Most helpful. But most of the problems of the bow arm are in the raising of the shoulder, the weight of the arm, the trajectory of the bow, the transfer of the weight from the elbow to the hand, what to do with the muscles in the lower back of the shoulder, bow direction and the horrible shaking in the terrible 'passagio' middle of the bow. If you could address those with your scientific approach will be very helpful. Should we concentrate on the hand and let the arm follow?
Hi Caonex, thanks for commenting-- well it's true there are all those possible problems you mention in bowing... but in order to get smooth and fluid bowing technique the thought and the feeling both have to be simple. Like walking for example-- the legs and back are working many muscles and different muscle groups but you can disturb the body's natural functions by thinking about what they are supposed to be doing rather than just lifting one leg in front of the other (none of us ever thought about this because we did it before we can speak, but it wasn't the easiest of things to begin with. But it's a perfect example of BODY-INTELLIGENCE. By the sounds of things this is more the approach you need. If you're scared of the 'horrible' bow shakes then they sure as hell will come. The mental tension creates physical tension. So embrace the risk, go for a relaxed and at first perhaps unrefined bowing, but trust that the motion will become smoother... IF you let it. More practically, look in the mirror, focus on the way it looks not the way it sounds (this will come). Focus on the way it feels not the way it sounds (this will come). If your arm is wonky, the bowing will sound wonky. If it is stiff in the hand or the wrist or the arm (any part!) then you will work against the bow's natural bounce rather than with it, and you won't learn to control the bow properly. Most importantly, try a strategy, give it a chance. Give it enough chance. Then if it doesn't improve you must adjust your approach. Remember the human body can always play with perfect bowing, you must allow it to, and train it to. If your bowing has jitters, it's not that something is wrong with your physiology, it's that you're not allowing it to work properly. Let me know how you get on!
Hi Max, am really enjoying your vids and looking forward to starting those exercises :-) Any advice on how often to do them or for how long? I'm an adult beginner and have been playing for about a year.
HI Kitty, thanks for your comment. Regularity is key with most kinds of training, I'd suggest doing these and other similar exercises as a warmup routine, give your hand a gentle workout. Good luck!
Good morning and by the way Happy New Year 2020 since time you responded to my last text comment in 2019, Mr. Max. Thank you. I been working hard on all you demonstrated with frustration, but I am used to getting things immediate and not take the long drawn out process. But patience is golden and it will come, I admit some improvements especially holding Viola on my right shoulder being its left handed, feels in sync comfortable and my fingers a little bit on board moving better , still a long ways. Anyway, reason for the text on a Saturday Jan 11th at 8:12am New York time: I lost information you gave for me to connect to your website so I can donate but I most importantly want to register for online classes you offer because you are strict and intense, in terms of wanting things done a certain and correct way and I need that type of discipline, so kindly and respectfully Mr. Max please resend all information for me to follow thru, and I will donate to your channel and get your online course , thanks . I am Interested in Viola learning and I have itunes Apple and google cards those redeemer gift card because I do not believe in credit cards cash only and definitely not my debit card. Therefore, if you please I would appreciate to know how to start. You are a good person that tells a definitive story thru the way you play music with raw emotion its profound, poignant, and truth, and even if people do not get it or may not really want to listen to its subliminal message, its respected and embraced by all. That is it, have a good weekend and again thanks.
Dear Max, I'm just a new student of yours watching on you tube. 6 25 24, 10:35am. Is that a viola bow your holding? And do you use it on a violin? Does that supply more power to the strings because it's greater surface area? Extremely currious to know. I suspect Benedetti uses a viola bow also only I don't notice a rounded frog. Thanks for any discussion of this topic.yours very truly c.e.u.s.a 6 25 24.😅
Excellent videos on developing flexibility in the right hand. Thank you for sharing your insights with us.
These are great visuals. Thanks, Max!❤️
you help me so much , thanks you for helping us
So helpful Max. Many thanks.
Wonderful. Great job. Congrats. Most helpful. But most of the problems of the bow arm are in the raising of the shoulder, the weight of the arm, the trajectory of the bow, the transfer of the weight from the elbow to the hand, what to do with the muscles in the lower back of the shoulder, bow direction and the horrible shaking in the terrible 'passagio' middle of the bow. If you could address those with your scientific approach will be very helpful. Should we concentrate on the hand and let the arm follow?
Hi Caonex, thanks for commenting-- well it's true there are all those possible problems you mention in bowing... but in order to get smooth and fluid bowing technique the thought and the feeling both have to be simple. Like walking for example-- the legs and back are working many muscles and different muscle groups but you can disturb the body's natural functions by thinking about what they are supposed to be doing rather than just lifting one leg in front of the other (none of us ever thought about this because we did it before we can speak, but it wasn't the easiest of things to begin with. But it's a perfect example of BODY-INTELLIGENCE. By the sounds of things this is more the approach you need. If you're scared of the 'horrible' bow shakes then they sure as hell will come. The mental tension creates physical tension. So embrace the risk, go for a relaxed and at first perhaps unrefined bowing, but trust that the motion will become smoother... IF you let it. More practically, look in the mirror, focus on the way it looks not the way it sounds (this will come). Focus on the way it feels not the way it sounds (this will come). If your arm is wonky, the bowing will sound wonky. If it is stiff in the hand or the wrist or the arm (any part!) then you will work against the bow's natural bounce rather than with it, and you won't learn to control the bow properly. Most importantly, try a strategy, give it a chance. Give it enough chance. Then if it doesn't improve you must adjust your approach. Remember the human body can always play with perfect bowing, you must allow it to, and train it to. If your bowing has jitters, it's not that something is wrong with your physiology, it's that you're not allowing it to work properly. Let me know how you get on!
Hi Max, am really enjoying your vids and looking forward to starting those exercises :-) Any advice on how often to do them or for how long? I'm an adult beginner and have been playing for about a year.
HI Kitty, thanks for your comment. Regularity is key with most kinds of training, I'd suggest doing these and other similar exercises as a warmup routine, give your hand a gentle workout. Good luck!
Good morning and by the way Happy New Year 2020 since time you responded to my last text comment in 2019, Mr. Max. Thank you. I been working hard on all you demonstrated with frustration, but I am used to getting things immediate and not take the long drawn out process. But patience is golden and it will come, I admit some improvements especially holding Viola on my right shoulder being its left handed, feels in sync comfortable and my fingers a little bit on board moving better , still a long ways. Anyway, reason for the text on a Saturday Jan 11th at 8:12am New York time: I lost information you gave for me to connect to your website so I can donate but I most importantly want to register for online classes you offer because you are strict and intense, in terms of wanting things done a certain and correct way and I need that type of discipline, so kindly and respectfully Mr. Max please resend all information for me to follow thru, and I will donate to your channel and get your online course , thanks . I am Interested in Viola learning and I have itunes Apple and google cards those redeemer gift card because I do not believe in credit cards cash only and definitely not my debit card. Therefore, if you please I would appreciate to know how to start. You are a good person that tells a definitive story thru the way you play music with raw emotion its profound, poignant, and truth, and even if people do not get it or may not really want to listen to its subliminal message, its respected and embraced by all. That is it, have a good weekend and again thanks.
👏👏👍
Dear Max, I'm just a new student of yours watching on you tube. 6 25 24, 10:35am. Is that a viola bow your holding? And do you use it on a violin? Does that supply more power to the strings because it's greater surface area? Extremely currious to know. I suspect Benedetti uses a viola bow also only I don't notice a rounded frog. Thanks for any discussion of this topic.yours very truly c.e.u.s.a 6 25 24.😅
Hi Chris, it's a violin bow. You shouldn't ever need to use a viola bow on a violin really... too much weight can squash the sound.
julia bushkova does this MUCH better with her tutorials......